Method of operating electric motors.



PATENTED MAY 7, 1907.

I R. 1). MERSHON. METHOD OF OPERATING ELECTRIC MOTORS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, 1904. RENEWED APR. 10, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witnesses.- 9, fnz/enfo r PATENTED MAY 7, 1907. R. D. MERSHON. METHOD OF OPERATING ELECTRIC MOTORS. APPLICATION FILED r212. 15, 1904. RENEWED APR. 10, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wz'in asses:

PATENTED MAY 7, 1907.

E. D. MERSHON. METHOD OF OPERATING ELECTRIC MOTORSM APPLICATION FILED PEB.15, 1904. RENEWED APR. 10. 1901.

3 SHEETS-SHEET SE Fig.5

M4, ,6, fill/111A 172719222 07- RALPH D. MERSHON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHOD OF OPERATING ELECTFHG MOTORS- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7', 1907.

Application filed February 15, 1904. Renewed April 10, 1907- Serial No. 367337.

To all whmn/ it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RALPH D. MERSHON, a

citizen of the United States, residing at New Method of Operating Electric Motors, of

which the following is a specification, reference being had tothe drawings accompany- I ing and forming part of the same.

' higher its 'of synchronous speed for such number of which My invention relates more particularly to alternating current motors of the commutating type, both series and repulsion, and has for its object to maintain the power factor of the motor, or the torque per'ampere, equal to, orv above, a certain value, throughout the range of speed over which the motor is to be operated.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, the power factor in a commutating motor is greater, for. a given numlier'of poles, the speed of rotation is in percentage poles. Or, stated differently, the torque per ampere is greater for. a given speed, other things heingequal, the greater the number of poles. Hence, when operating at low speed, by making the number of poles greater and thus making the synchronous speed of the motor lower, the power factor may be increased.' The actual speed at the motor is running is therefore a higher percentage of synchronous speed, and

the power factor is accordingly greater. The

e'tliciency of the motor, however, is less than with a smaller'numberof poles, for well un- Hence it is .desirable to operate with a small number of poles. But in this case, if the motor be started with the small number of poles, the power factor may be too low,since the actual speed iss'o low in comparison with the synchronous speed. I therefore propose, in operating such a motor, to run it'with a relatively large number or numbers of poles at the low speed or speeds thereby securing a high power factor, thoughwith some loss of efficiency; and, when the speed has increased to such an extent that its ratio to synchronism for; a smaller number of poles is such that the power factor with such number ofpoles would not drop-b elow a given limit, the number ofpoles is reduced to that number; the power factor will therefore be. as high as needed or desired, while at the same time the l v i current.

ber of poles will be reduced and the efficiency of the motor correspondingly increased, it is obvious that this procedure may be repeated as often as desired, throughout any range of speed.

Considering the matter from the standpoint of torque by this method a given torque may be main: tained throughout the motors range of speed with a less number of amperes per unit of torque than would be required if a greater number of poles were not used with the lower speed or. speeds. For example, if the motor be started with a small number of poles, which might be called its normal nume her, a relatively high current will be required instead of the power factor,

to produce the necessary torque. But if a larger number ofpoles be peed in starting the same torque may he developed with less The motor would therefore be allowed to run with this number of pales until its speed is such that to produce the same torque with a smaller number of poles at the same speedwould not require per unit of torque, a number of amperes exceeding the limit set. The-number of poles may'then be reduced, thus maintaining the sametorque with the same or not much greater current, while at the same time increasing the efficiency of the motor by reducing the losses incident'to the greater number of poles. It will therefore be seen that less current has been required to bring the motor up to the desired speed with the normal number of poles than would have been required if the motor had been started with its normal num+ ber of poles.

voltage on the motor si e of the transformer.

The above general explanation will serve to indicate the fundamental principle of my method, but the invention also embraces other features which will be more fully eX-. plained hereinafter.

Referring now to the drawings: Figure 1 represents diagrammatically a series imotor in which the number of poles may be two or four. Fig. 24s a diagram showing a repulsion motor arranged to run with two or four poles Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a repultion motor by short-circuiting the windings I the first position of the of 'o eofdts elements, and also provided with means whereby a desired flux distribution in the primary may be produced.

in the various figures, the stationary element is indicated by F, and the rotating ele ment byA. They are both shown with uniform ring windings; but it should be understood that the nature of the winding, whether ring, drum, uiuformly or non-uniformly distributed or other, is immaterial, so long as it will lend itselfto change in the number of poles. Each element is shown as having a single winding, but it should be understood that either element or both may have two or more windings, as for example, one winding for each number of poles at which the motor is to be operated. uikewise'the form of the field and armature is immaterial, whether with salient poles or not, if the number of. nolesmay be varied in both. For simplicity in the diagrams, the commutator in each figme is shown as being in and part of the winding, a construction sometimes used in direct current machines.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the leads to the field are indicated by I, Z 1 Z, brought out to contacts t. From the commutator brushes a, b, 0. leads Z Z, Z are brought out to contacts 15, and from brushes (1., b, 0 leads Z Z Z" are. carried to contacts 15*. The single phase source of current is indicated'at S. A coin troller is diagrammatically shown at C. tracing the connections it will be see-rtthqtin; controller two will be produced in the field and in the arm ture. In the next produced in each. In all the figures the brushes are shown as always in contact with the commutator, but each one-may of course be raised when not in use. For instance, in Figs. 1 and 2, when a and a are in use the others may be raised, and conversely. Also,

-. as, It might be made to serve for b, c, or b, c,

by shiftinga, a to the properv points when the four pole connection is made. Similarly in Fig. 3. In Fig. 1 the brushes are shown at positions of no load, that is, midwa between poles. n practice they would eofl' of these poiri'tsan extent, usually slight, de-

. pending upon the design of the motor.

In operating the motors represented by Figs. 1 and 2, according to my invention, the maximum number of poles is used for the low speeds and the minimum for the higher speeds. Beginning, for example, with the maximum, (in the present instance four), with this number of poles less current per unit of torque will'be required to produce the desired torque than would be the case if two poles were used in starting. hen the speed with-four poles has increased suiliciently the number of poles may be reducedv a train descending a grade.

I v the current flowing. position four poles will be I voltage impressed oil the motor. It will also depend upon the value of the power factor which it is desired to maintain. That is, if a high power factor is required, the speed would generally be allowed to attain a greatcr ercentage of synchronism before changing, 111 order to make the existing speed a higher percentage of synchronous speed for the new number of poles. In general it may-be said that the precise time of making the change would be determined by the operator, who.

I can he guided by a watt-meter, ammeter, or-

power meter indicator, or by his experience.

The principle is the same in reducing the speed of the motor and its load by causing the motor to exert a negative torque. Here the kinetic energy, orinertia, stored in the moving mass or masses, will. be transformed into electrical energy and delivered to the supply circuit for utilization by translating devices elsewhere on the line. Likewise the potential energy of the load, as in the case or It should therefore be. understood that the invention is not limited to operating a motor at increasing speed, but is also applicable for braking or reducing the speed.

Eorreasons well understood bythcse skilled inthe art, it is desirable that the E. M. Ffs

iii-the coils f-the immature due to its rotaroe tion be oi appmxi'ma ely the same form as his can be secured by producing'the proper-flux distribution in the primary or field.

In my co-p'ending ap lication, Serial No. 1 74,698, I have describe and claimed broadly a method of producing any desired fiuxdistribu'tion, by leading in the currentor currents at a plurality of points per pole, which method maybe employed here. Fig. 3 illustrates a system arranged forpracticing this method in connection with the present invention. Two leads per pole are employed, but of course a greater number may be used if d esired. As fully explained in my co-pending application above mentioned, the flux distribution may be varied by varying the number of leads per pole, also by varying the distance between the leads, or both. The motor ill ustrated in this figure is of the repulsion type, but it is obvious that the series motor is equall T adapted for the production of a de sired ux distribution in a. similar way. In all the figures it will be seen that the voltage is changed, as well as the number of poles, when the controller is shifted. This is ordinarily desirable. If, however, it is desired to vary the voltage for any particular polenumber (to increase or decrease the torque),

, I fij-farmature windings at suitable points.

the .figure the conductors are connected at eight points, though of course the number" may bevaried as desired,

the better. f be-located on the armatuream this may be readily effected in a variety of 1 of accomplishing it j pagallel with the shaft, or the short-circuiting q ma be effected] outside of themotor and there short-circuited. lnf operating a motor provided with I instance,

f sired speed, as one approximating synchronism for an xisting number of poles, then the armature may be 'short-circu'ited as described i'aridthe motor from there on run ,tion motor, its speed being varied by varia- ,tifons in the lnur motor,

. or any of the well known v timetheswitchmay be opened and the mo-l machine. This furnishes 1n efiect a convenientmethod'of starting an induction motor,

For example, one method is indicated by the diai grammatic, dial switch R, Fig. 3. The same i means may of course be employed with the series motor when de- 1 well known ways.

at't e higher speeds, it may into an induction motor by edient of short-circuiting the e secondary or armature, as, manner illustrated in conductors connected with the generallythe more The short-circuitin switch may operated in' any convenient way, as by means of a rod in any other convenient" manner. For instance the short-circuiting leads may be brought to'slip rings and brushes such a device it may at any time be operated as an induction motor, as before stated. For

' the machine may be run as a series or repulsiommotor until it has reached a deas an inducber of its poles. Atany tor ag in op a d as aseries or repulsion as will be readilyunderstood. After a speed approximating synchronism for the maximum number o'f'poles has been attained as a ,series or repulsion motor it may thereafter be operated as may then be increased by a simple commuan induction motor, and its speed tation of itspdles. In the drawing 1 have shown provision for two numbers of poles and therefore two speeds in the induction but it is plain that'the possible numbers of poles may be as many more as desired. In another co-pending application,

Serial No .'190,440, I have described at length J :and claimed broadly a novel method of vary- I positive completed,

'tion or retardation as the case maybe.

ing the speed of a motor by varying the number of its poles in such a way that the torque, 1

or negative, which the motor can exert with each new number'of poles, at the speed existing after the change has been is sufficient to produce accelera- This method may of course be practiced with advantage in this connection. The motors can poles, and

{of course be reversed in the well known way,

and it is therefore not necessary to illustrate means for effecting the reversal. The series motor can be reversed by reversing the relative connection of the armature and field, and the repulsion motor by shifting the brushes so that they have a lead of the same amount as before, but on the opposite side of the neutral point. I do not claim herein the-apparatus described-above, but-do so'inm co-pending application filed'of even date erewith, Seria No. 193,548.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The method of operating commutating motors adapted for change in the number of poles, to maintain a power factor equal to or above a predetermined limit, which consists inlru'nning the motor. withone number of poles with a power factor e ual to or above the limit, until the,speed o the motor has been brought to the desired percentage of synchronous speed for another number of fter such percentage has been reached, changing to the other number of poles, asset forth.

, 2. The method of operating commutati-ng motors adapted for change in the number of poles, to'maintain-a power factor equal to or above a predetermined limit, which consists in running the motor with, one number of poles with a'power factor equal to or above the limit, allowing speed until it has reached the desired percentage of synchronous speed for another number of'pol'es, and changing to the other number of poles, as set forth.

3. The -method of operating commute-ting motors adapted for change in the number of poles, to maintain a power factor equal to or above a predetermined limit, which consists in. running the motor with one number of poleswith a power factor equal to or above the limit, until the speed has been brought to the desired percentage of synchronous speed for another number of poles, changing to other number of poles, allowing the speed to change until it has reached the desired percentage of synchronous speed for another number of poles, changing to the other number of poles, and repeating such step or steps "until the normal number of poles has been reached, as set forth.

4. The method of operating commutating motors adapted for change in the number of poles, to maintain a above a predetermined limit, which consists in running the motor with one number of poles with a power factor equal to or above the limit, allowing the motor to change in speed unt'l its speed has reached the desired percentage of-synchronous speed for another number of poles, changing to the other number of poles, again allowing the speed to the motor to change'in the power factor equal to or i I change iintil it has reached the desired percentage of s nchronous speed for another number of poles, changing to the other number of until the normal number reached, as set forth.

5. The method of operating commutating motors, to maintain a power-factor e ual to or above a predetermined limit, whic consists in starting the motor with a maximum number of poles, allowing its speed, with a power factor equal to or above a predetermined limit, to increase until the desired percentage of synchronous speed for a lesser number of oles has been reached, and changing to t e lesser number of poles, as set forth.

6. The method of operating commutating motors, to maintain a power factor equal-to or above a predetermined limit, which consists in starting the motor with a maximum number of poles, allowing its speed, with a power factor e ual to or above the limit, to increase until t e desired percentage of synchronous speed for a lesser number of poles has been reached, changing to the lesser number of poles, again allowing the speed, to inof poles has been crease with a power factor e ual to or above reached, as set forth.

the limit, until the desire percentage. of synchronous s eed for a lesser number of poles is reache changing to. the lesser number of poles, and repeating such step or steps until the minimum number of poles has been 7. The method of operating a motor provided with a commutator, which consists in running the motor, with the commutator, at a maximum number of poles, allowing its speed to approximate synchronism for such number of poles, short-circuiting the armature winding or windings, and thereafter varying the number of poles to increase the speed of the motor, as set forth. 8. The method of operating a motor provided with a commutator, which consists in running the motor, with the commutator, at

a maximum number of poles; changing the number of poles when the speed attains the desired percenta e of synchronous speed for the new num er of poles, and when the speed after the change approximates sync ronism for the new number of poles, shortcircuiting the windings of the secondary or armature and operating the motor as an induction motor, as set forth.

9. 'I he method of operating a motor provided with a commutator, which consists in running the motor with the commutator, at a maximum number of poles, changing the number of poles when the speed attains the desired percentage of synchronous s eed for the new number of poles, short-circmting the windings of the secondary or armature when the speed after the change in the number of poles approximates synchronism for the new poles, and repeating such step or steps ber of rent or currents thereto at a plurality of points per pole to produce a desired distribution ,of-

magnetic flux, running the motor with one number of poles with a power factor equal to i or above a predetermined limit, until the speed of the motor has been brought to the V desired percentage of synchronous speed for other number of poles, as set f0 another number of poles, and-after such percentage" has been reached changing to the I 11. The method of operating commutat ing motors, which consists in feeding the current or currents thereto at a plurahty ofpolnts per pole to produce a desired distribution of magnetic flux, running the motor with one number of poles with a power factor equal to,

or above a predetermined limit, until the speed has been brought to the desired percentage of synchronous speed for another number of poles, changing to the other numoles, allowing the speed to change until it as reached the desired percentage of synchronous speed' for another number of 4 poles, changing to the other number of poles, and repeating such step or steps untll the normal number of poles has been reached, as

set forth.

12. The method of operating commutating motors, which consists in feeding the cur rent' or currents thereto at a plurality of' points per pole to produce a desired distribu.

tion of magnetic'flux, running the motor,

with the commutator, at amaximum number of poles, allowing its speed to a proximate synchronism for such number of poles, short-circuiting the armature winding or windings, and thereafter varyin the number of poles to increase the spec -of the tor, as set forth. 1 13. The methodof operating commutating motors, which consists in feedingthe current or currents thereto at a plurality of points fper pole to produce a desired distribution 0 magnetic flux, running the motor,. with the commutator, at a maximumnumber of poles, changing the number of poles when the speed attains the desired percentage of synchronous speed for the new number of poles, and when the speed after the change I ber of poles, short-circuiting the windings of approximates synchronism for the new numthe secondary or armature and operating the motor as an inductlon motor, as set forth.

14. The method of operating a commu- 4 tating motor, which consists feeding the current or currents thereto at a pluralit of points fper pole to produce a desired distnbution 0 magnetic flux, running the motor with the commutator, at a maximum number of poles, changing the number of poles ber of poles, short-circuitingthe windings of when the s eed attains the desired percent: her of olesto increase or decrease the speed, age of sync onous speed for the new numas set orth. the secondary or armature when the speed RALPH MERSHON' 5 after the changein the number of poles ap- Witnesses:

' roximates synchronism for the new num A. E. MAHAN, er of poles, and thereafter varying the num- S. S. DUNHAM. 

